Top U.S. science award for Indian scientist

MUMBAI: Dr. Haren S. Gandhi, technical fellow and head, global core emission and fuel economy team, Ford Motor Company, is among the new Science and Technology Laureates just announced by US President George W Bush.

Each honouree will receive a medal, called National Medal of Science, at a White House ceremony on November 6.

The National Medal of Science honours individuals in a variety of fields, including biological sciences, chemistry, engineering, mathematics, physical sciences and technology.

Based at Ford Motor Company headquarters in Dearborn, Michigan in the US, Dr Gandhi is a world-recognised expert in automotive emissions control.

A chemical engineer by profession from Mumbai University, Gandhi moved to Detroit to do his masters and Ph.D and in 1967 joined Ford as a research engineer. He has been instrumental in making improvements on the catalytic converter, the basic component in fuel emission control.

In 1990, he was the first winner of prestigious 'technological innovation' award instituted by Discover Magazine for innovation of "platinum-free automotive catalyst", used in all Ford cars. Dr Gandhi has had an illustrious career wherein he has won includes numerous technical awards, including five Henry Ford Technological Awards in 1985, 1988, 1989 and two in 1994.